Definition

Noun: 1. Sweat; perspiration: The clear, salty liquid produced by glands in the skin, typically as a response to heat, physical exertion, or emotional stress. It serves to regulate body temperature. 2. Symbol of hard work and effort: The sweat produced by a person, often used figuratively to represent the toil and labor invested in achieving something.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning:
  • Trời nóng quá, tôi đang đổ mồ hôi. (It's so hot, I am sweating.)
  • Anh ấy lau mồ hôi trên trán. (He wiped the sweat from his forehead.)
• Figurative meaning (representing effort):
  • Bát cơm này là mồ hôi nước mắt của mẹ tôi. (This bowl of rice is the sweat and tears of my mother.)
  • Thành công này được đổi bằng mồ hôi và công sức. (This success was exchanged for sweat and effort.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đổ mồ hôi hột": To be in a cold sweat (from fear or anxiety).
  • Nghe tin đó, anh ấy sợ đổ mồ hôi hột. (Upon hearing that news, he broke into a cold sweat.)
• "Mồ hôi đầm đìa": To be drenched in sweat.
  • Sau trận đấu, cầu thủ mồ hôi đầm đìa. (After the match, the player was drenched in sweat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đổ mồ hôi (verb phrase): To sweat, to perspire.
• Vã mồ hôi (verb phrase): To break out in sweat.
• Mồ hôi nhễ nhại (adjective phrase): Soaked with sweat.
• Tuyến mồ hôi (noun phrase): Sweat gland.

Synonyms

• Mồ hôi is the standard and most common term. In specific contexts, giọt mồ hôi (a drop of sweat) can be used for emphasis on the physical drop or the figurative unit of labor.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Mồ hôi nước mắt": Sweat and tears; representing immense hardship and toil.
  • Cô ấy nuôi con bằng mồ hôi nước mắt. (She raised her child with sweat and tears.)
• "Đổi mồ hôi lấy cơm" / "Kiếm cơm bằng mồ hôi": To earn one's living by the sweat of one's brow.
  • Người lao động chân tay đổi mồ hôi lấy cơm. (Manual laborers earn their bread by the sweat of their brow.)
• "Sợ toát mồ hôi": To be so scared that one breaks out in a sweat.
  • Cảnh trong phim kinh dị làm tôi sợ toát mồ hôi. (The scene in the horror movie made me break out in a cold sweat.)

noun

1. sweat; perspiration